Salvia plant named ‘Melen’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Salvia  cultivar named ‘MELEN’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive yellow calyx and dark brown corolla, large individual flower size and early flowering. ‘MELEN’ is highly floriferous and has an upright plant habit. The new variety is a  Salvia,  normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Salvia jamensis.

Variety denomination: ‘MELEN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Catherine Bernabe, a citizen of France. The objective of the breeding program was to produce highly floriferous plants of Salvia jamensis in a variety of colors. Plants of the unpatented variety Salvia jamensis were self-crossed during the Summer of 2001, at a commercial nursery in Henansal, France. The new variety was discovered in the Summer of 2003, at the same commercial nursery by the inventor, Catherine Bernabe, in a group of seedlings resulting from that crossing.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘MELEN’ by vegetative cuttings was performed at the same commercial greenhouse in Henansal, France in 2005 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations. All plants of ‘MELEN’ have been kept confidentially at the nursery in Henansal, France, with the exception of those supplied for Plant Breeders' Rights testing in Spring of 2009. Plant Breeders' Rights were applied for in April of 2008, however, there has been no commercial distribution or access to the variety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MELEN’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MELEN’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MELEN’ as a new and distinct Salvia cultivar:

-   -   1. Distinctive yellow calyx and dark brown corolla.     -   2. Large individual flower size.     -   3. Compact and upright plant habit.     -   4. Early flowering.     -   5. Highly floriferous.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MELEN’ are similar to plants of the parent, Salvia jamensis unpatented, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MELEN’ produces larger flowers than the parent variety, with longer inflorescence.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MELEN’ can also be compared to Salvia microphylla. Plants of ‘MELEN’ are similar to plants of, Salvia microphylla, unpatented, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MELEN’ produces larger flowers, with longer inflorescence. ‘MELEN’ also flowers earlier than Salvia microphylla, and produces overall more flowers and more inflorescence than Salvia microphylla.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MELEN’ can also be compared Salvia greggii ‘Yellow’, unpatented. Plants of ‘MELEN’ are similar to plants of, Salvia greggii ‘Yellow’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MELEN’ produce a dark corolla, compared to the green corolla of Salvia greggii ‘Yellow’. ‘MELEN’ also produces darker yellow flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘MELEN’ in an approximately 2 liter pot. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 30 weeks from a rooted cutting. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘MELEN’ plants grown in an unheated plastic covered greenhouse at a commercial nursery in Henansal, France. The growing temperature ranged from 8° C. to 28° C., day and night. The nursery area is un-shaded, giving bright, normal sunlight conditions. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia jamensis ‘MELEN’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 10 days at approximately 20° C. -   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 20 to 25 days at 20° C.

PLANT

-   Plant spread: Approximately 35 to 40 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate, approximately 40 cm during a growing season,     reaching a mature height near 60 cm after one year. -   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 25 cm from stem to     just under the inflorescence. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.3 cm. -   Quantity of lateral branches: About 35 to 40. -   Stem:     -   -   Color.—Youngest: Near RHS Yellow Green 145A. Oldest: Near             RHS Greyed-Purple 187A.         -   Texture/pubescence.—Smooth, non-pubescent. -   Internode length: Approximately 3 to 4 cm. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 30 weeks from a rooted cutting     in early spring

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 16 per lateral branch.         -   Average Length.—Approximately 3 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Elliptic to oblong.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenutate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glossy.         -   Pubescence.—Slightly on top face, none on under surface.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow green 144A.             Young foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow green 146B. Mature             foliage upper side: Near RHS yellow green 144A. Mature             foliage under side: Near RHS yellow green 144A.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             yellow green 145B. Venation color under side: Near RHS             yellow green 144D.         -   Petiole.—Average Length: Approximately 0.8 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS yellow green 145B.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: May to November. -   Inflorescence type and habit: Bilabiate flowers arranged in     verticillasters on spikes. -   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 8 days. -   Quantity of flowers: About 8 to 10 buds and 6 to 8 fully opened     flowers per lateral branch, at one time; or about 50 to 60 blooming     spikes per plant. -   Inflorescence size:     -   -   Diameter/width.—Approximately 6 cm.         -   Height.—Approximately 13 to 16 cm. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—0.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple N187A.         -   Orientation.—Straight, with an outward curve towards the             apex, at approximately a 30 degrees angle.         -   Strength.—Rigid. -   Petals     -   -   Petal arrangement.—Bilabiate flower, with lip 2 fused             petals, upper lip 3 tightly fused petals.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Tip shape.—Obtuse, with some ruffling on lower lip.         -   Length.—Lower lip: Approximately 3.5 cm upper lip:             Approximately 3.0 cm.         -   Width.—Lower lip: Approximately 2.0 cm upper lip:             Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Petal quantity.—5, with 2 fused on lower lip, 3 fused on             upper lip.         -   Petal apex shape.—All obtuse.         -   Texture.—Matte.         -   Aspect.—Mainly flat. -   Color:     -   -   Petals.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Yellow-Orange             19A and 19B mixed with Orange-Red N30A. Lower surface: Near             RHS Yellow-Orange 19A and 19B mixed with Orange-Red N30A.         -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near RHS Yellow 12C with Yellow             4B. Lower surface: Near RHS Yellow 12C with Yellow-Orange             19B and 19C. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Elongated cylinder.         -   Length.—1.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple N187. -   Sepals:     -   -   Shape.—Quantity per flower: 3.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.4 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately Approximately 0.6 cm fused on base.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—2.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 1.5 cm. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Grey-Brown 199B.         -   Pollen.—Color: Near RHS Yellow-Orange 14B. Quantity: Scant. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 3.1 cm.         -   Style.—Length: Approximately 2.8 cm. Color: Near RHS Red             36D.         -   Stigma.—Color: Near RHS Red 36D with light flushing near             Red-Purple N74B. Ovary color: Near RHS Yellow 9C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: 4 spherical seeds per flower, each less than 0.1     cm in diameter. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     pathogens and pests common to Salvia have been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures     between 5 to 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named ‘MELEN’ as herein illustrated and described. 